Jellie Park closes this week for redevelopment

2 April 2007

Jellie Park will close this Thursday (5 April) for work to begin on the $12 million redevelopment of the Ilam Road aquatic facility.

During the next month, Council staff will be on site salvaging plant and equipment before site works and construction begins in May, says City Council Recreation and Sports Manager John Filsell.

Tenders for the project close next Wednesday (11 April), the successful tender expected to be let early May.

Mr Filsell says the redevelopment of Jellie Park is significant for west Christchurch.

"This is the first of four new aquatic facilities planned to be built in Christchurch during the next 13 years under the Aquatic Facilities Plan. This Plan looks at the city’s needs for the next 30 years and develops a network of facilities that provide Christchurch and Banks Peninsula residents with year-round access to world-class recreational aquatic facilities."

He says when Jellie Park re-opens in June 2008 it will have four indoor pools, an outdoor pool, new gymnasium and aerobics suite and new changing facilities.

"There will be a new 25m, eight-lane, 2m-deep water pool suitable for aquatic sports, a new toddlers’ pool, the existing 25m, eight-lane indoor pool built in 1989 will be refurbished with three lanes raised to a consistent depth of 1m for Learn to Swim classes, and the existing learners’ pool will also have been refurbished."

Mr Filsell says the redeveloped Jellie Park will include a new indoor recreational water feature, designed to complement the outdoor hydroslides built in 1984.

Jellie Park’s outdoor swimming pool has already undergone a $500,000 refurbishment, reinforcing Council’s commitment to providing world-class outdoor recreation facilities.

"Jellie Park is renowned as a great family facility with its outdoor summer pool ands its successful swim education classes. The redevelopment will only serve to enhance its reputation, establishing it as the anchor facility for west Christchurch, as QEII is for the east.

"The redevelopment will return Jellie Park to its status as a state-of-the-art complex."

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